Russell Lloyd Mathews (1921-2000) - Emeritus Professor, economist and government adviser

Abstract

Professor Russell Mathews was born in 1921 in Geelong, Victoria and was educated at Haileybury College and the University of Melbourne. His first appointment at the Australian National University was as an assistant to the university's first vice-chancellor, Sir Douglas Copland. He occupied this position from 1949 until 1951 when he went to London as the ANU's Administrative Officer.

In 1953 he was appointed to a Readership in Commercial Studies at the University of Adelaide. In 1958 he was offered the Chair of Commerce and he remained at Adelaide University until 1964.

He returned to the ANU to take up a Chair in the newly created Department of Accounting and Public Finance. His research interests in public accounting and fiscal federalism led to his appointment as the Director of the Centre for Research on Federal Financial Relations when it was established in 1972. He worked half-time in the Centre and half-time in the Department.

He relinquished his Chair in the Department of Accounting and Public Finance in 1978 when he was appointed to the Commonwealth Grants Commission. Until his retirement in May 1986 he continued to direct the Centre and work half time for the Grants Commission. In addition to his academic appointments, he served on a number of government commissions and inquiries, and advised international governments on taxation reforms.

He was awarded an Emeritus Professorship on his retirement.